Strasbourg staged a stunning comeback to soar into the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-finals, defeating Mainz 4-0 at the Stade de La Meinau—a stadium famously constructed from aircraft parts—to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit. The 4-2 aggregate victory sets up a thrilling clash with Rayo Vallecano, who survived a 3-1 loss to AEK Athens to advance 4-3 on aggregate.

In another dramatic tie, Shakhtar Donetsk displayed remarkable resilience, securing a 2-2 draw at AZ Alkmaar to progress 5-2 on aggregate. The 2009 UEFA Cup winners, competing against the backdrop of ongoing conflict in Ukraine, will now face Crystal Palace, who weathered a 2-1 defeat in Italy to eliminate Fiorentina 4-2 overall.

The night belonged to Strasbourg, however, as they dismantled Mainz with goals from Sebastian Nanasi, Abdoul Ouattara, Julio Enciso, and Emmanuel Emegha. Despite Emegha missing a second-half penalty, the French side's relentless pressure proved too much for a Mainz team whose European dream ended in frustration, sparking scuffles after the final whistle.

For Mainz, the defeat extends a long wait for a major semi-final, their only previous appearance coming in the 2009 German Cup. Under manager Urs Fischer, who took over with the club bottom of the Bundesliga in December, they have stabilized their league form, but their memorable European journey has now reached its terminus.